Cubs Minor League News: Shaw with amazing web gem, Garcia clutch, Martin impressive, more |
The final day of the Minor League season concluded for the Chicago Cubs and their system, as Iowa had one last game to finish. As was the case most of this series, the offense was tough to come by for whatever reason, which is hard to believe when you look at the overall offensive numbers in AAA this season.
Still, the Cubs found a way to get it done, posting a 1-0 record with an extra-inning win over the Rochester Red Wings.
Although the overall season wasn't great, with the Cubs going just 68-82, there was a lot to like about this team as plenty of the Cubs most highly touted prospects made a lasting impression throughout the season. Whether or not these players come back to Iowa next season, get traded away to another organization, or will be given a shot on the Cubs MLB roster, Iowa ended their season on a positive note by picking up a 3-2 11-inning win. As expected, with this being the final game of the season, the Cubs elected to go with a bullpen game where nine different pitchers saw action on the mound. Seven of those nine pitchers saw just one inning of work, with Tyler Santana and Riley Martin going two innings each and combining for six strikeouts across those innings. In total, the Cubs pitching combined to strike out 16 hitters in the game while walking just four, as they were overpowering at times against this Rochester lineup. You wouldn't have guessed that based on the instant success the Red Wings had against Lucas Luetge, as Jake Alu and Andrew Pinkney delivered a pair of RBI singles to put the Red Wings in front 2-0. Despite those being the only runs of the game for Rochester, two runs were looking to be enough as Andrew Alvarez was locked in early. He kept the Cubs off the board through three innings and allowed just two runs in five innings to go with ten strikeouts. Both of those runs came in the fourth inning and came from one swing as William Simoneit connected for his second AAA homer and sixth since joining the Cubs to make this a 2-2 game. Simoneit was acquired in July from the waiver market and did a great job filling in for several injured players this season. Not only were those the final runs of regulation, but neither team could get much of anything going the rest of the way, as both teams' bullpens were lights out. The bottom of the eighth is when the game nearly ended, and it came with the Red Wings offense up to bat. With Jack Neely on the mound, Joey Meneses set the offense up as his one-out double put the go-ahead run at second. Two batters later, Pinckney came through with another single, only to have Kevin Alcantara fire home and nail Meneses at home to keep things 2-2. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT RUN ON THE JAGUAR! We're still tied heading to the ninth! pic.twitter.com/ZJMyiq437Q MATT SHAW WITH THE PLAY OF THE YEAR!!!!!! We're going to extras! pic.twitter.com/y2Au0o5iJr With neither team being able to score in the ninth, it was off to extras to decide this one, as the fans were treated to some free baseball for the final game of the season. Neither team pushed home a run in the 10th, but with the Cubs at bat in the 11th, it was time for their offense to come through and end this game. That all started with a sacrifice bunt from Simoneit to move Hayden Cantrelle to third as he did a bit of everything in this one. That was followed by a clutch Reivaj Garcia single as the Cubs took their first lead of the game, 3-2. REIVAJ GARCIA GIVES US THE LEAD IN THE 11th! pic.twitter.com/zWFPpM2s9N With only three outs standing between them and a season-ending win, Martin was back out for his second inning of work, and after walking Alu, the Red Wings had two on and one out. That was as close as Rochester would get, as Martin responded by striking out the final two hitters he faced to finish the Cubs season with a 3-2 win. I-CUBS WIN THE SEASON FINALE IN 11 INNINGS! Iowa outhit the Red Wings 10-7 as Matt Shaw, Owen Caissie, and Garcia all had two-hit games. Shaw and Caissie will be two names to watch this week as potential call-ups. Caissie hit .278 with 19 homers and 75 RBIs this season, while Shaw combined to hit .284 with 21 homers, 71 RBIs, and 31 steals across AA and AAA this season. WHAT A WAY TO END THE SEASON!IOWA CUBS 3 - ROCHESTER RED WINGS 2 (F/11)
Riley Martin held the Red Wings scoreless in each of the extra frames. CLUTCH! pic.twitter.com/Dhnr48msIA
It took 11 innings, but we got the W!
10 straight scoreless innings by a combined eight I-Cubs pitchers, HOW 'BOUT IT! pic.twitter.com/R6C6nxiPB3
